The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-11-24
to enable me to understand it in ordi-
nary usen

Blushing profusely, she again said:
81 hope you will excuse my unman-
ncrly way of addressing stranger, but
will you tell mc--did you-doyou know
what passed between usa"
81 could not help but hear" l replied,
'but assure you it is safe with me-"
She looked at me searchingly and did
not seem at case.
Presently she turned herself back and
seemed for time absorbed in thought,
while continued playing with Carrie,
although ceased from the further ma
nipulation of the ticker. Carrie, after a
while, left my side and left me alone
with my thoughts.
'Iwondor," Icogitated, "what's in the
wind She seems very nervous and dis
pleased that overheard their converse
ton. Such pretty girl, too, wonder
if---no, I'll ask herr" and leaning for
ward l said, as gently as could,
"I hope, miss, that my unintentional
and unavoidable listening causes you no
displcasurc, if I, a stranger, may be per-
mitted so to speak"
She turned abruptly.
"May ask your name9" she queried.
"With the greatest pleasure" and l
handed her my card.
She looked at the card for some Sec
onds, evidently bringing her mind to a
conclusion regarding something, then
turning to me, said:
"Mr. Williams, somehow I feel well
acquainted already with you. There is
a something which prompts me to think
you are my friend and that I shall need
your services. I fully appreciate how
widely depart from the customs of So
ciety in thus talking with one whom l
never met before, but the ice is broken,
and am about to seek great favor at
your hands. Are you going to Chicago''
81 am" replied, growing interested
each moment, "and shall be delighted to
be of service to YOU"
81 should be much pleased to have
you call at my fathers house at your
earliest convenience.
1 was bewildercd, but as the train
was nearing the end of the route phil
osophically accepted the situation,
thanked my good luck and agreed to
call at three the next day. So the
adieus were spoken at the station and
we separated.
Promptly at the appointed time I was
at the house of the. young lady, and dur
ing the few moments had to wait for
her appearance, as she had just come in
from drive, l was speculating as to
what the "great favor she had men
toned was. So abs Jrbed was I in build
ing situations in which l was the hero
rescuing prosecuted girl that did not
see her enter the room, nor was l aware
of her presence till light hand on my
shoulder caused me to look upon as
sweet face as it ever had been my lot
to see. stood spell-bound and could
not even utter the conventional civil.
ties necessary to the occasion.
Perceiving my confusion she merrily
remarked, "Wcll, am surprised, real
ly. 1 always thought reporters were
never embarrassed"
81 sincerely beg your pardon" re-
piled, "but l must confess that your
presence is so complete surprise and
the errand for which am summoned is
so new an experience that | must really
plead lack of that control of myself
that never before deserted me. Sucl
a sudden vision of lowell"
pardon me if interrupt you," she
said. care you sure you were no
about to use a stereotyped phrase o.
your profession-but, there, 1 am very
ungenerous in chatting you this way
but you know, woman glories in al
opportunity to make man feel uncom
Portable, that is, when she feels certain
she can set it all right again. Besides
l am in my stronghold, as it were, ant
l could scream real hard if you got mad.
] bit my lips. Who was this woman
Her making fun of me in thi
intelligent, self-reliant way showed
me that l was talking will
practical, self-possessed chilt
of fortune, and she spoke in I
manner SO full of fun, and the merr,
twinkle in her eye indicated so strongl,
the entire absence of any deliberate ide
of offending that it won from me onl,
the highest esteem-"but," / said t.
myself, ''if she were only a man."
'Now," said she, as if divining m
thoughts, Il hope l have not provoked
you, but let us come to business. Yo,
remember l slid I had a favor t.
ask of you. You heard what passet
between that gentleman and myself
I call him gentleman" because it
polite to do so. He is my prosecutor
Some two Or three years ago, bein,
desirous of knowing something or bein
proficient in some art or trade tha
: might be of benefit to me if mlsfortun
: befell my fathers household, studio,
telegraphy, and, although my fathe
! was not in favor of it, accepted posi-
tion as operator at station on the Pa
Handle road. This gentleman" wa
the operator at Logansport, where he lef
the train. / had to send nearly al
my work through his Office. As tn
work of the office was pretty heavy, m
signature appeared pretty frequentl
4 there, and he was not long in findin
out that the operator at B. was not